Get this and get it straight. Crime is a suckers road and those who travel it wind up in the gut of the prison of the grave.

The story you are about to hear is true, only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

The Adventures of Sam Spade Detective.

The Adventures of the Saints starring Vincent Prize

Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account

America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator.

Yours truly, Johnny Deller. the Hello and welcome to down these mean streets with more old-time

radio crimes and crime solvers. This week we're heading back to 221B Baker Street

for a belated birthday salute to Basil Rathbone. For many, Rathbone is the definitive Sherlock Holmes of the big screen.

From 1939 until 1946, Rathbone, with Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson, starred as Holmes in 14 films and in hundreds of radio episodes on the new adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

Today Rathbone's name is practically synonymous with Sherlock Holmes.

It's funny because prior to Holmes, he was best known as a big screen villain facing off in

great movie duels against Errol Flynn and Robin Hood, Tyrone Power in the

Mark of Zorro, and years later against Danny Kay in the court jester.

Admittedly, John Stanley is my personal favorite of the Radio Sherlock's, but I have to say it just feels right

hearing Basil Rathbone as the detective his voice is as much a part of the Holmes

mythos as handsome cabs and the violin.

Today we'll hear Rathbone in a pair of Sherlock Holmes mysteries as well as a

radio adaptation of a classic Alfred Hitchcock film.

Rathbone didn't star in the picture,

but he stepped in for the radio version,

an episode that reunited him with his Dr. Watson,

...